"How's the song coming, B?" Robin asked over the phone. I had my Bluetooth earbuds in my ear while I spoke to her. Tucker's apology gift for almost killing me in his monstrous ghost form. He didn't have to since I already accepted his apology, but he felt the need to do something a little bit more. And boy, does that kid love technology.
"It's finally done!" I exclaimed with excitement. "I recorded it last night with the musical production I made."
"That's awesome!" Robin yelled.
"It is! I really like how it turned out."
"Has Danny heard it yet?" I froze while dropping my folded up red dress in my bag. I have the song on my MP3 Player. The plan was to have Danny listen to it earlier, but a ghost attacked and we had no time to even talk after because of school. And then the plan was to have Danny after school, but I think you can guess what happened. Yeah...ghost attack number two.
"Uh...well..."
"Briar," Robin scolded like a mother, making me sigh as I grabbed my Polaroid camera and placed it in my bag carefully.
"I was going to have him listen to it, but each time I try, a ghost either attacks or we have class to get to!" I exclaimed. "And plus his parents are getting on him for missing his 10 o'clock curfew."
"You have to play it for him soon!" Robin yelled. "If that's the only way for him to realize how you feel, then you need to play it for him!" I sighed as I zipped up my bag and sat beside it on my bed.
"I know, and I will," I said. "I just need to wait for the right time. I don't want to ruin our friendship."
"I understand that, Briar," Robin said. "But like I keep saying, there's no time better than the present!"
"Briar, time to go!" My mom called from the stairs, making me stand up and grab my bag.
"Coming, mom!" I yelled back. "Hey, I have to go. Going on a road trip with my mom for the weekend. I'll call you when we get there."
"Okay. And Briar...tell Danny how you feel already!" Robin yelled before we hung up. I just laughed as I took my earbuds out and threw them in my satchel before rushing down the stairs. There, I saw my mom with her blond curls up in a ponytail and a calm smile on her face. She was a vision of beauty to me and I could see why my dad fell in love with her.
Now that I think about it, I think this is the first time I'm getting to talk about my mom.
"You ready to go, dear?" She asked me.
"Ready!" I exclaimed with a smile as we walked out of the house and saw the Fentons across the street getting their ghost RV. And immediately, my eyes darted towards to Danny, seeing him look so upset and resistant.
"Good, because the Fentons have agreed to let us tag along with them," Mom said with a smile. Oh, perfect! Now is the perfect chance for Danny to her my song...on the road. I raced over to Danny and tackled hug him from behind, making both of us laugh. This seemed to have put him in a better mood.
"Guess who's tagging along!?" I said with excitement as Danny laughs and lets me down.
"Awesome! Now I can listen to your new song!" He said, making me freeze and look at him with curiosity and wonder. "Robin told me you finished it."
"Of course she did," I said before realizing something. "When did you two exchange numbers!?" Danny just laughed before hearing our parents call for us to get into the van. Danny sighed as I hooked my arm with his and dragged him to the van.
"How does this happen?!" Jazz yelled as I sat next to Danny, my MP3 ready to go with my new song. Headphones were connected to it and I was waiting for Jazz to stop reprimanding her brother. "You goof up and I have to spend four days cooped up in the Fenton Ghost RV?!"
"It's the Fenton Family Ghost Assault Vehicle, folks!" Mr. Fenton said. "Every button in this baby is a ghost's worst nightmare." I gulped at that as I saw my mom sigh across from me. She was reading a book about ghosts.
"Jack, I thought Anthony made it clear not to hurt them!" She exclaimed. This made me sigh as I leaned back in my seat.
That was my dad, alright, I thought.
"UHG! I need some air," Danny said as he went to press a button.
"Don't press any buttons!" Jazz yelled, but too late. Danny hit one of the buttons and four different weapons came out of the vehicle. One shot at a tree, another shot at a bird and froze it, another hit a dude in a convertible while on the phone (you shouldn't be on the phone while driving!), and the last one shot green goop at Jazz, covering her head full.
"I'll get you for this," She said to Danny menacingly. It took me to push her to the side where there was a towel on the floor and sat between them.
"No hurting anyone!" I yelled, making my mom smile at me.
"That's my girl," She said before going back to her book.
"Thanks, Briar," Danny whispered as Jazz took the towel and started wiping her head off.
"No big," I said with a smile. I looked at my MP3, seeing the title of my new song flashing in front of me. Something inside me told me to play it for him now, just to get it over with. But then another part of me was saying to just wait a while.
And can you guess what part won?
"So, when DID you and Robin exchange numbers?" I asked putting my MP3 away, not noticing that Jazz saw me do this.
"Oh, during that Tucker Phantom episode," He answered.
"Oh! Was it the day before all heck broke loose?" I asked, and he nodded in response. "Makes sense."
"Whoa!" I heard Jazz say, making me look over and see she had my headphones on while listening to my song. I tensed a bit, but I wasn't mad. I didn't mind Jazz listening to it first. Made it easier in the grand scheme of things.
"Jazz! You know better to just take Briar's MP3!" Danny yelled, making me place a hand on his shoulder.
"It's fine. I don't mind," I said with a smile. I looked back at Jazz as she took the headphones off.
"Hey, Danny!" I heard my mom call. "Come on over! It's been a while since I've seen you!"
"Sure, Mrs. Winthrope," Danny said as he stood up and walked over to my mom. I could hear them talking now, which gave me the chance to ask Jazz what she thought.
"Well? What did you think?"
"I've never heard of this artist," She said, pointing the my original song 'Invisible'. "Who is this? She's really good."
"Uh, me," I said. "That's my original song." Jazz blinked and then looked shocked.
"Are you kidding me?!" She exclaimed. "Briar, that's really good!"
"You liked it?" I asked.
"Yeah!" She then smirked as she nodded to Danny. "And I'm sure he'll love it." I guess it was that obvious to everyone BUT Danny that I've fallen in love with him. I grinned at Jazz and thanked her for her honest opinion.
It was late at night, I was in my sleeping bag next to Danny and Jazz was in between Danny and Mrs. Fenton. My mom was next to me, already fast asleep. I swear, she sleeps like a log.
"Get some rest everybody," Mr. Fenton boomed, making me glare at him, but my mom didn't move a muscle. "I want the entire Fenton and Winthrope clan bright-eyed and bushy-tailed when we meet Masters tomorrow."
"Wait, wait, wait," Jazz began, "Masters? As in Vlad Masters? Who was named Affluence Magazine's billionaire of the year?!"
"That's the guy!" Mr. Fenton stated. "In college, he was my best friend! We were very popular guys! Roommates, lab partners, we did everything together!"
"Something tells me something happened to change that," I mumbled to myself.
"He was even your mom's friend, Briar!" Mr. Fenton exclaimed with a smile. "Until the thick fingers stuck themselves right into Vlad's eyes."
"That's what I was afraid of," I sighed as I turned towards Danny in my sleeping bag.
"There was an explosion, and he was hospitalized with a horrible case of ecto-acne," Mr. Fenton continued. "It devastated him. And killed his social life. We haven't spoken since that day."
"Wonder why?" I said sarcastically to Danny, quietly, which he snorted at.
"But the good news is, I think after all those years, he's finally forgiven me!" Mr. Fenton said, making Danny look at me with worry. I gave him the same look.
The following morning, we took to the road again. But it didn't take us long until we pulled up to a big castle of a mansion. And when I say castle...I MEAN CASTLE!
"Wow," I said with surprise. "My 5-year-old self is freaking out right now." Danny chuckled as we walked up the stairs with Mr. and Mrs. Fenton, Jazz, and my mom. That's when a man with snow-white hair and blue eyes walked out of the shadows to greet us. He wore a black suit and a smirk on his face.
"Jack," He said before seeing Mrs. Fenton. "And Maddie! You've never looked lovelier, my dear." It wasn't long before he noticed my mom standing beside me. "Iris Vergara?" He asked with surprise. "I'm glad you could come."
"I wouldn't miss this for the world," Mom said with a smile. I couldn't help but smile as well.
"Please! Please! Come in," Vlad said as he gestured for all of us to head in before him.
"Vladdie, my man! It's good to-" He was cut off by the door slamming in his face. Yeah...Vlad sure has forgiven Mr. Fenton alright. "Hello? Hello!?"
In the foyer of the castle/mansion, there was a bunch of green and gold decorating the walls. And there were glass cases that were filled with Packers stuff. How I know it was the Packers is because I saw a poster with the name on it. I'm not big on sports, but I do know some teams. Packers weren't one of them.
"What's with the green and gold?" Jazz asked. "You're a billionaire, surely you could afford an interior designer."
"Jazz, hello? Football helmets, jerseys, cheese heads. He's a Packers fanatic!" Danny exclaimed with his arms crossed, as well as sounding very proud of himself.
"Even I came to that conclusion," I chimed in with a smirk.
"Hello!" Mr. Fenton called, making me jump as I turned to the door.
"Oh, 'fanatic' is such a negative word," Vlad stated as he patted Danny's head. "But yes."
"I don't understand," Jazz began, "You have billions of dollars. Instead of buying this stuff, why not just buy the team?!"
"Oh, boy," I sighed.
"Because the Packers are owned by the city of Green Bay and they won't sell them to me!" Vlad exclaimed angrily, until he fixed his demeanor and looked at Mrs. Fenton. "One of two things my wealth has not as of yet been able to acquire." I shivered at the thought of Vlad and Mrs. Fenton. He doesn't seem like her type.
"Is he hitting on mom?" Danny asked Jazz.
"As long as he's got working toilets and mom says no, who cares," Jazz retorted before walking away.
"I, uh, better let Jack in," Mrs. Fenton said as she rushed over to the door.
I looked over at Danny, only to find him by a signed football on a pedestal. I walked up to him and checked it out myself.
"Whoa! Cool," Danny said.
"Indeed," Vlad stated, "This ball was autographed by the legendary Ray Nitchkey, himself." I stood there, looking confused. "It's my prized possession."
"Heads up, V-man!" Mr. Fenton yelled as he ran in and tackled Vlad to the ground, making me try my best not to laugh. "HAH! I see you still got the old moves!" Mr. Fenton stood up with the ball in his hands, making Vlad grab it away from him.
"Give me that!" He yelled as he took the ball back to it's place on it's pedestal. "I've never had any old moves! All those years in the hospital robbed me of that!" I just blinked in surprise and worry as I watched Vlad calm down and adjust his jacket.
"Yes," He began again, "well, it gave me time to chart out a course for my life, didn't it? Made some decisions that helped make me very wealthy, and very quickly. And it never would have happened, without you, Jack." I felt my ghost sense going up my spine like electricity, but the blue stream never came out of my mouth. I guess I just felt creeped out by this guy.
"Uh, yeah. Maybe we should go," Mrs. Fenton brought up and I couldn't have agreed more. And my mom seemed to have as well.
"No, no! You should stay with me!" Vlad stated, making me get closer to Danny. "That's the whole reason, I'm throwing the reunion here in my castle."
I started to cling onto Danny's arm after Vlad was done speaking. I was scared and I usually don't show my fear that much. But when I did, you knew it was serious. I was expecting him to make me let go, but Danny just put a hand over mine, making me look at him and grin. He had my back.
"Previously home to the legendary Wisconsin Dairy King," Vlad continued as he pointed out a framed photo of this little old man in a robe while wearing a cheese triangle crown on his head, as well as holding and ice cream cone scepter.
"Just so I can, reconnect with you, Jack," Vlad continued. "I insist you stay."
"Well, I don't know," Mr. Fenton said. "We do have a really cool RV."
"Let's stay here!" Jazz said as if she was coughing.
"Smooth," Danny said sarcastically, making me giggle.
"You know, Jack, the Dairy King's ghost could haunt these very halls," Vlad said.
"I'll get the bags!" And with that, Mr. Fenton was off to get our bags, while making me tighten my grip on Danny's arm. I didn't want to stay here!
"Hey, it's okay," Danny whispered to me, making me look at him with fear in my eyes. "I got you." His eyes turned to green and back before smirking, which made me grin at him again. He sure knew how to make me feel better.
"And Iris," Vlad began, "you look just as lovely. But I expected you to be back in Ohio with Anthony."
"I was, Vlad," My mom said with a smile. "But as I thought you heard, my husband died in a car accident 4 years ago. Some limo hit him while my daughter was in the back of our RV."
"Oh, heavens! I'm so sorry, my dear. You must still be heartbroken" He said with, from where I stood, feigned sorrow and sadness.
"You have no idea," Mom said in return. "But I'm just glad my little girl survived."
"And I take it this young girl right here is your daughter?" He said, pointing to me.
"Yes, that's Briar,"
"Oh, you look just like your mother," Vlad said to me with a smile, making me return one nervously.
"Thanks. But I've also been told I look like my dad," I retorted.
"I can see both," Vlad shrugged before seeing my arm around Danny's. "Are you two a couple?" I blushed heavily as I let go of Danny's arm. Thankfully, Danny just chuckled at me.
"Uh, no. We're just really good friends," I said with a nervous grin. "He's always had my back growing up."
"As you with me," Danny said with a smile. I smiled back at him, not feeling those unwanted nerves in my stomach anymore.
"Well, I'm glad you could come along," Vlad said with a wicked smile on his face before he walked away from me. I sighed with relief as I felt a hand grab mine. I looked over and grinned as I saw Danny reassuring me that everything will be okay.
It didn't take long for Mr. Fenton to come back with the bags and Vlad showed us to our rooms. I was lucky enough to get the room next to Danny's, with a Jack-n-Jill bathroom attached. He also put my mom farther away, which I was a bit uneasy about, but at least I had Danny...right?
After Danny handed me my bag, I thanked him and went into my room, closing the door behind me. I felt safe now. Or I at least had a resemblance of safe. I just hoped this anxiety wouldn't last for long.
~DANNY'S POV~
I walked into my room and closed the door behind me. It was a bit room with a big bed in the center. You can guess that there was a desk, nightstand, and dresser in here as well. I just sighed as I set my bag on the bed and stuck my hands in my pockets. But I soon pulled them out, with Briar's MP3 player coming up with them. She must have snuck this into my pocket when I wasn't paying attention.
I felt my phone vibrate after a moment and took that out, seeing a text from Briar.
'Please listen to my song. I wrote it for you. It's called Invisible,' Was the text she sent me. I grinned at the thought of her writing a song just for me. But I wasn't that special. Why me? I dug into my bag and found my headphones. I plugged them in and put them over my ears before finding her song and pressing play as I sat on my bed.
(SONG: "Invisible" – Taylor Swift) [Some lyric change and shortened]
The music started and I just bobbed slowly to it. She really knew how to produce good music. I'm not a country kind of person, but I'd listen to this everyday if I could.
BRIAR: She can't see the way your eyes/will light when you smile./She'll never notice how you stop and stare/whenever she walks by./And you can't see me wanting you the way you want her/but you are everything to me./CHORUS/And I just want to show you/she don't even know you/she's never gonna love you like I want to./And you just see right through me/but if you only could see/we could be a beautiful/miracle/unbelievable/instead of just invisible.
I put my hand on my headphones, listening closely now. Is this for real? Does Briar really like me in this way?
BRIAR: Like shadows in the faded light/oh, we're invisible./I just want to open your eyes/and make you realize./CHORUS/And I just wanna show you/she don't even know you/baby, let me love you, let/me want you./You just see right through me/but if you only could see/we could be a beautiful/miracle/unbelievable/instead of just invisible./Oh-oh-yeah./She can't see the way your eyes/will light up when you smile...
(End of the song)
I took my headphones off once the song was over, and just sat there thinking. Thinking of how to tell her...I felt the same way.
~BRIAR'S POV~
I found myself in a dark room, alone, with no way in or out. It was cold and the only light I saw was the spotlight above me. Something wasn't right. Or at least, something didn't feel right. I was in my ghost form, but instead of my hazmat suit, it was the dress I wore to the dance.
"What's going on?" I asked out loud, hoping I'd get an answer soon. But no one, not even Danny, was returning my question. "Hello?! … Can anyone hear me?! … Danny?! Jazz?! Mom?!"
"Stardust," I spun around to see a man who only had light coming from behind him, so I couldn't see what he looked like. But I could tell he had the same build as my father. "Only 14. Not old enough to be queen...but a crown still dresses the head." I swung my hand up to my head, feeling a tiara there. I could tell it was made of diamonds and perhaps some blue topaz gems (I like studying gems sometimes and I know the feel of certain ones).
"Who are you?" I asked as I slowly lowered my hand. "Where am I?!"
"Sing," He said as he pointed, making me look down at my hand. There I saw the microphone that appeared to me at the dance again. "Sing until you can't sing no more. One day, that just might save your life."
"What do you mean by that?!" I asked with worry as I looked back up, only to see the man was gone.
"Go be the pop princess I know you can be," I froze as tears formed in my eyes. Those words...they were always said to me growing up. I spun every which way to find where the man went, just to ask him where he heard that phrase, only to stop when I saw a vampire looking ghost before me. He smirked wickedly as he shot a red ecto-ray at me before...
I jolted awake with a scream. I was breathing heavily as I could feel the cold sweat dotting my forehead. What kind of dream was that? I looked to my nightstand, seeing the time read 3 am. But I also saw the microphone sitting there. I've tried using it once against Sam as the dragon. But it didn't seem to work then.
How was it to work now?
"Briar?" I jumped with a start as I looked over to see Danny coming in from the bathroom. "Are you okay? I heard you scream!" He asked as he rushed up to me and sat on my bed.
"I'm fine," I answered with a sigh. "Just a weird dream."
"Want to talk about it?" He asked as his hand touched mine. I blushed at his touch, but I did my best not to let him see it.
"Uh...I should be fine now," I said. "Though it did have something to do with this microphone I got at the dance." I picked up the object and showed it to Danny. "It just appeared out of nowhere and when I tried to use it that same day, it wouldn't work. So I don't know what to do with it."
"Is it part of your ghost form?" He asked.
"Yeah. Though it looks more like my dress from the dance," I said with a giggle. "I just-" I stopped mid-sentence as my ghost sense went off with Danny's.
"Oh, great," He said. "Just what we need: a working vacation."
"Yeah," I said in return as I got out of bed and grabbed a flashlight. "You go ghost, I'll stay human. Element of surprise and all." I smirked as I ran out of my room, while hearing Danny change into his ghost form. He flew after me and I immediately saw Mr. Fenton walking down the hall...with three ghost birds following him.
"Mr. Fenton!" I called, only to stop when I saw a set of hands grab him by the ankles and phase him through the floor. I blink shortly before turning around to see if Danny was anywhere near. But he wasn't. I guess he noticed his father before I did and went to save him. I smirked as I walked over to the three ghost birds.
"Hey, what gives!?" One of the birds yelled.
"Hi," I said with mock sweetness, making them turn to me with wonder. But one of them seemed to have grown shocked when he noticed me. "I don't suppose you're lost, are you?"
"You!" The one who was shocked said before flying towards me. He tried to peck me but I quickly back-flipped out of the way before he could.
"Whoa," I said. "I didn't know I could do that as my human self."
"Hi, guys! Remember me?!" Danny said as he popped up in front of me. He pounded his fist in his hand as they all shrieked and phased away in different directions.
"Okay. That was almost TOO easy," I stated confused.
"Ah, bright boy," A voice spoke up behind us, making me turn around and scream. Behind us was the same vampire like ghost from my dream. "And girl." He quickly added as Danny pushed me behind him for protection.
"Ah, whatever!" Danny said. "I was aiming for the birds, but you'll do!"
"Danny, wait! He's-" I started to say when Danny jumped into action and went to punch him, when the vampire ghost grabbed his fist and tossed him away. Danny slammed into the wall, leaving cracks in the brick. He soon slid down and landed on a table, making me rush over to him and grab his arm out of fear.
"Whoa. Fast," Danny said. "Alright, better stop fooling around."
"Wait!" But he didn't stop, he just went straight to the guy, ready to attack when the vampire ghost grabbed him Danny by the neck and threw him to the floor. "Danny!" I yelled with worry.
"My vultures were supposed to bring the big idiot to me," The vampire ghost said. "But you'll do. Danny Phantom, right?"
"You...you know me?" Danny asked confused.
"Of course I know you!" He soon went intangible and backwards, phasing through the wall behind him. I watched as Danny flew after him. I had to go after him. I just had to! So I quickly went intangible myself and went through the wall after him. And behind the wall was a library full of books. My mom would love it in here.
"You're the ghost boy who uses his powers for good!" The vampire ghost stated. "How quaint? Aren't you going to try to shove me in your ridiculous thermos?!"
"I...I don't want to fight you!" Danny yelled.
"Danny!" I exclaimed.
"No...no you don't," Instantly, the vampire ghost shot a stream of a magenta ecto-ray at Danny, hitting him and making him fly across a table, and hitting a bookshelf.
"Get away!" Danny called as he flew in front of me and shot a green ecto-ray at the man, only to have a magenta shield form in front of him.
"Ah! An ectoplasmic energy blast," The man said, making Danny angrier as he kept firing the energy blasts. But the man kept blocking them with the shield, and eventually, he just yawned. "So, year one. Tell me, child, can you do THIS yet?!" And the man then multiplied himself into four different versions.
"No! I can't!" Danny yelled as I stood there, shocked. "How are you doing all this?!"
"Years of practice," The man said. "Which you, unfortunately, have no time for." All four of this man then shot their own respective energy blast at Danny, hitting him and making him scream out in pain.
"DANNY!" I screamed back before he fell to the ground in pain. I raced over to him and fell beside him. "Danny, are you okay?"
"Briar, get out of here," He said. "I can't let you get hurt."
"I'm not leaving you, Danny!" I exclaimed before standing up and staring dangerously at the man before me. He had made himself be only one of him again as he went to shoot another beam at us. But I had other plans. I let the white rings form around me and I changed into my ghost form before shooting a stream of my blue ecto-rays at this ghost, hitting him in the chest. It sent him flying and made him bounce off the wall and fall to the floor.
"What?!" He exclaimed as he looked at me. "You're one, too?!"
"Since I was 10! Now at 14, I'd like to think I'm a bit stronger," I smirked as I duplicated myself and let all of us shoot at him. He dodged each one, which made me reform as one. "Darn it!"
"How did you become like this?!"
"None of your business, fruit-loop!" I yelled, hearing a chuckle come from Danny. "Now, less talking...MORE BUTT KICKING!" I screamed as a sonar scream came out of my mouth and sent the man back some. But since I hardly ever use this power, I fell to my knees and feeling weak.
"Briar!" Danny crawled over and held me. "You have that power?!"
"Yeah, but I don't use it often," I said as I looked up at him. "I'm sorry I couldn't be more help now."
"Don't be," He said as he kissed my forehead, making me blush. Did he listen to my song?
Soon, the man started to fight Danny and I again, but our butts were getting handed to us until we were flown through the door and landed on the ground. Danny was all banged up and bruised, and his suit was torn some. And I'm sure I looked worse. I was losing my vision as I looked at Danny, seeing him look at me with weak eyes. I had just reverted back to my human self.
I'm sorry, Briar. I couldn't protect you, He told me with our telepathic ability. I just grinned at him with this, my way of telling him it was alright before I saw him blackout. All at the same time as I heard the vampire ghost fly through the door as well.
And Danny reverted back to his human self as well.
"The ghost boy, is Jack's son?" The man said, probably not realizing I was still awake. I kept to myself as my vision got worse. "Well, what do you know."
Then I blacked out.
"No!" I jolted awake and rose up in my bed. Wait...this doesn't feel right. "GET AWAY! BRIAR!"
"Danny!" I called as I got out of bed and raced through the bathroom, stopping at the door.
"Huh?" He said as he took the blanket off his head. He wasn't banged up and/or bruised anymore. Now I definitely felt uneasy. "Where am I? What happened?"
"I wish I could remember," I said as I raced up to him and sat beside him.
"And I was going to ask you two the same question," I turned to the door with Danny, seeing Vlad walk in with a smirk.
"We...must have been worn out from the long car trip," Danny said with a nervous smile. "We'll be okay in the morning. I'm sorry for the scare."
I'm not! I thought as I sat there, just feeling total unease from this man.
"Oh, what's a little scare between friends, kids," Vlad retorted. "Sleep tight...little badgers." And then he was gone.
"That was strange," I said as I looked over at Danny, seeing him blushing as he looked at me. "What?"
"I, uh..." He stuttered, making me raise a brow in confusion. He then sighed and grinned at me, with exhaustion in his eyes. "It's nothing. We'll talk tomorrow, okay?"
"Oh...okay," I said as I got off his bed and headed towards the bathroom to go to my room.
"Hey, Briar?" I stopped and looked at him, grinning at him as he was to me. "I'm glad to have met you."
"Same here, Danny. Same here."
The following night was a busy mess. I was still in my room, but I could see everyone arriving one by one, which had to have meant things were going crazy downstairs. I was wearing my red dress with black heels and a black leather jacket. My hair was curled and pinned with the crown pin I had for the dance. Sam's mom let me keep it. Now I was just sitting in one of my soft chairs, waiting for Danny to get back from grabbing Jazz.
And as if on cue, I heard a knock on my door. I grabbed my black purse and walked up to it, answering it and seeing...
"Mr. Masters?" I asked confused. "Can I help you?"
"I was wondering if you could do me a huge favor, my dear," He said with a smile. I got this weird feeling again, but my mom and dad always told me to obey grown-ups and to be polite. So I nodded my head with a smile. "Wonderful! Now, can you go to my lab, second door to the right upstairs? There's a present there for your mother that I would love for you to bring down."
"Oh! Okay! I'll be right back with that!" I exclaimed as I grabbed my phone from my purse and put it in my jacket pocket before I discarding my purse. I quickly raced out of my room and headed to his lab, while I texted Danny I would meet him in the ballroom later, that I had an errand to make before I went. He responded with an okay before I found the door.
I opened on it's own and made me gulp with fear. I slowly walked in and looked around for a present for my mom. But I wasn't seeing anything that resembled a present. However, I kept looking when I noticed the keys to a limo on one of the tables. I looked at them for a moment, before I saw the brand name. They were for a Lincoln Town Car.
"That's the name of the limo that hit me and my dad," I said as I saw the paper from that year, seeing the front page being about the accident that turned me into a half-ghost. I read through it (mainly because I didn't get to when I was younger), finding out that the Lincoln Town Car belonged to Vlad Masters.
"What?" I dropped the paper in shock, while combing my fingers through the side of my hair that didn't have the clip. It was Vlad that hit us. That means Vlad is basically the reason I was like this, and why my father wasn't here today. I quickly spun around to leave when I stopped with a start, seeing Danny walk in. "Danny, the heck!?"
"Oh, hi," He said nervously.
"You scared me," I said.
"Sorry."
"What are you even doing in here?" I asked.
"Mr. Masters told me to come look for a present for my dad. Why are you here?" He asked with worry.
"He told me to come get a present for my mom," I retorted. "But now I'm thinking there was no presents."
"Maybe," Danny looked over at a framed photo that I noticed when I first walked in. It was torn, but I recognized the people. One was Mrs. Fenton and the other was a younger Mr. Masters. But the other person I couldn't tell since that's where the photo was torn.
"Wait a minute," Danny said as he reached into his suit jacket pocket and pulled out the missing piece. My eyes widened in surprise as I raced up to see him put it in place. "Oh, no...no way." Our ghost senses went off as we quickly changed into our ghost forms. We had each other's back until a pair of ectopuses grabbed us and brought us up.
"Let go!" Danny yelled as he kicked one away and I flipped the other off of me, while landing on the floor. "Those ghosts...they were two of the first ghosts I fought!"
"Then how are they-!?" I started to ask before a net grabbed me and shocked me.
"Briar!" Danny yelled before another net shot out and grabbed him, shocking him too.
"They're not alone, pup," I looked up to see Skulker walking towards us.
"Oh, great," I mumbled.
"Skulker?" Danny seemed confused and surprised as he quickly torn out of the net and went to attack the robotic ghost. I did the same, but that shock really did a number on me. Thankfully, I was strong enough to shoot an ecto-beam at Skulker as he had already hit a couple of lab equipment.
"How did you get back in your ecto-skeleton?!" Danny yelled. "What are you doing here?!"
"All excellent questions," Skulker said before tossing a cube towards Danny. "Catch!"
It soon grew around Danny, capturing him inside it. "Hey! I can't phase out of this! It's disrupting my powers!"
"Danny!" I yelled as I raced to go help him, but Skulker shot some ecto-beams at me, sending me flying to the wall as well as binding my arms to my sides and my ankles together.
"Briar!" Danny yelled before getting electrocuted by the cube and reverting back to his human self. His head had flopped forward as I struggled in my binds, but there was no way for me to phase through these. They were paranormal binds. Basically ghost proof.
I soon saw Skulker lift Danny's head up and make a blade come out of his wrist. I struggled harder as Danny chuckled nervously.
"The glowing blade is new!"
"You like it?! I've had some upgrades!" Skulker said with uncharacteristic enthusiasm. It made me shiver a bit. But if I could slap my forehead, it would have been because of this. "Now-"
"Enough!" I looked over to see Vlad standing there now, looking annoyed. "I didn't free you to kill the boy, Skulker! Your work is done." I gulped again. I knew there was something fishy about this man.
"Yes, well, I-" I guess he still had Tucker's old PDA since it was telling him what to do again. "I got to go to the library and check out a book on a gorilla. Again!" And with that, Skulker was gone.
"Huh...guess those are on repeat," I mumbled to myself.
"Skulker, the ectopuses...I don't understand!" Danny exclaimed, bringing my attention back to what was going on.
"Of course not, you're, what, 14!?" Vlad exclaimed. "Too young to drive and not in college yet!? I sent those ghosts and others to test your father's skills." I struggled more, needing to get out of this mess. "Imagine my surprise when I find you! The second ghost hybrid his foolishness created!"
"Second?" Danny asked surprised.
"I've been forgotten, again," I sighed, but my sorrow was short-lived as I watched Vlad turn into that ghost from the other night. Now I remember what happened!
"You!" Danny yelled. "I'm GOING GHOST!" But nothing happened. "GOING GHOST!" Again...nothing. Oh, boy. "Why can't I 'go ghost'?"
"You have a battle cry. Hilarious," Vlad said. "I on the other hand...HAVE THIS!" He patted the cube Danny was in. "A spectral energy neutralizer designed by Skulked, paid for by me. And as long as you remain in that box, you are as human as your idiot father."
"Let me out of here!" Danny yelled. "And let Briar go!"
"Why?" Vlad asked. "So you can go back to stumbling through your adolescence, desperately trying to get control of your powers? Powers, by the way, that I've had for 20 years."
"Well that overrides 4," I stated with shock.
"I have experience, my child," Vlad continued. "And the money and power obtained from using those powers for personal gain, you see. I could train you, teach you everything I know. And all you'd have to do is renounce your idiot father."
"Dude," Danny began, "you are one seriously crazed up fruit-loop. That is never going to happen."
"Yes, well, once your father is out of the way, we'll see how you feel," Vlad mentioned with a smirk before disappearing with a laugh.
I struggled more and more, hoping to find a way out of this goop. I was grateful to still be in my ghost form, but Danny was still trapped and human. I had to get out of this to save him and protect his father.
"I'm sorry, Briar," I heard Danny say, making me look at him as I struggled some more. "I should have kept my guard up. I should have remembered that fight."
"Danny, it's okay," I said. "We'll get out of this."
"I don't see how! You're tied up and I'm trapped in this cube!" Danny yelled. "Face it. It's over." I froze for a moment, not really liking what Danny was saying. "I'd understand if you didn't like me anymore." I blushed as I looked at him some more.
"You listened to my song?" I asked.
"Yeah," He replied. "It was really good. And I got over Paulina ages ago." I held in my scream of excitement as he told me this. "It's you I want now." My heart was beating so loudly in my chest as I listened to this. He wants me. He wants me over Paulina. That's all I ever wanted to hear him say.
"But I understand if you don't feel that way anymore," He said dejectedly.
"Danny, I-" I spoke, before feeling the microphone in my hand. I looked at it for a moment, seeing it glisten under the lights of the lab. "Could it be...?" I spoke before I pressed the star on the device and the binds around me disappeared. "Yes!" I exclaimed as I stood up and stopped. Danny just seemed so sad and defeated. I had to do to something.
So I quickly ran over to him and looked around the cube before finally setting my ghostly gaze on the open button. I pressed it and it released Danny, making him look at me from his stupor. I then kicked it away from us and looked at his eyes.
"Briar," He hugged me as I returned it, melting into his embrace. But all good things come to end, since he had to pull away from it. "How'd you get free?!" He asked as I waved my ghostly microphone in front of him.
"Guess this thing has more secrets than I thought," I spoke. "Listen, Danny, I know it's hard to believe, but...I'm still in love with you. No matter what. And that is never going to change. I just-" Before I could even react, I felt Danny pull me in and our lips met as we shared our first kiss. I could feel the electricity go up my spine and explode in my head before we pulled away. I was blushing like a crazy person as he smiled at me. I returned the smile.
"Ditto, Briar. Ditto," He said, making me giggle.
"JACK!" I heard Mrs. Fenton shout, making me go on alert again.
"Dad!" Danny yelled before changing into his ghost form and we flew out of the lab together.
Everyone was running away, screaming in fear as I could hear destruction happening in the ballroom. "If you live to tell the tale, remember that big fat, Jack Fenton, did this to you!" I heard Vlad speak, which I'm sure he was overshadowing Mr. Fenton and made him say that.
"Guess again, cheese head!" Danny yelled as I flew in and stopped, while he flew in further and went intangible before body-slamming into Vlad. This got him out of Mr. Fenton and I flew after them, going through a wall and back into the library where it all began.
"Daniel, stop, think of all the things I could show you!" Vlad stated. "The doors I could open for you. You, Danny Phantom and I...Vlad Plasmius. Together, we could rule."
"Forget it, pal," Danny said. "Your money can't buy my mom, it can't buy the Packers, and it can't buy me!" He then shot a double dose of his energy ecto-rays towards Vlad, who just absorbed it and shot it back, but Danny put a ecto-shield around us.
"We know who you are," I said with anger. "We'll tell our parents...I'll tell everyone!"
"And so will I," Vlad said. "Honestly, if you expose me, you expose yourselves," I growled as I flew out of the shield and punched him square in the face, knocking him to the ground and onto his back. Tears were tempting my eyes as I stared dangerously at him.
"Briar, what are you-?!" Danny called before I put up a hand to stop him.
"I know what you did 4 years ago," I spoke calmly, but menacingly, as I dropped my hand. This got Vlad's attention as he stared at me confused. "I know who caused my father's death...I know who caused me to be like this. A Lincoln Town Car is what caused it all. And if you even deny that you have one of those in a garage somewhere, I will personally rip out your heart and eat it!"
"Whoa," Danny spoke. "That's violent."
"Tell me the truth...was it YOU who KILLED my father?" I was trembling, losing my patience as I stood there, clenching my hands into fists. And this seemed to have made Vlad tremble in fear as he backed away from me timidly.
"Hey, calm down," He said nervously.
"I am calm!" I snapped. "I need answers. I saw the keys and the article in your lab! The article even said the limo was yours! So, don't even deny it was you!"
"Alright! It was me!" Vlad yelled. "I thought it was Jack Fenton, not Anthony Winthrope! But having one less ghost hunter in the world was worth it." He smirked at this as I felt my blood boil.
"Go be the pop princess I know you can be," I held the microphone in my hand and looked at it for a moment, tightening my grip around it.
"My dad was my biggest supporter," I said. "He'd call me his pop princess and would tell me to be just that when I grew up. But you took that way from me." I pointed the microphone at him, which made him cock an eyebrow. "I may not get my revenge right now for his death...but knowing who was behind it is all I need right now."
Right then the horn of the Fenton Assault Vehicle sounded and Danny dodged out of the way as it drove through a wall. It was heading right at Vlad and me, but sadly he moved out of the way as I flew towards Danny.
"You okay?" I asked as he grabbed me and held me gently.
"I'm fine," He said. "I'm so sorry, Briar." I grinned at him as a tear fell down my cheek.
"At least I know," I retorted as he wiped away my tear.
"Mind if I cut in?" I heard, making me spin around to see Vlad had taken Mrs. Fenton out of the RV.
"Let go of me!" Mrs. Fenton demanded.
"Never again, woman," Vlad spoke as he flew away with Mr. Fenton chasing after him.
"Come on!" Danny said as we flew towards the RV and went invisible. We flew inside and I stood behind him in the clearing while he sat in the driver's seat. "Oh, great. It's a stick." He commented, making me giggle.
"And I wasn't going to come to this thing, HAH!" I looked over at the girl in the passenger seat and just shook it off as Danny started driving. We almost hit Mr. Fenton, but thankfully he dodged out of the way.
"Sorry, Dad," Danny said. "I only have one shot at this." We stopped in front of Vlad and Danny made a weapon come out from the roof.
"You sure know how to work this thing," I said with a smirk. "It's sort of making me like you even more." He smirked back at me as a target screen came up and locked itself on Vlad. The first thing that Danny sent out was an energy beam, but Vlad just hit it out of the way with his hand. The next was lighting, but Vlad went invisible and made it go passed him. But the third one was the winner...
Ectoplasmic Goo.
It shot out of the third laser and hit Vlad, sending him back as he dropped Mrs. Fenton. I watched as Danny quickly flew out of the RV and went into his father. He then quickly caught his mom as his father.
I smiled as I flew out myself and went visible, grabbing Vlad and punching him in the face again. "That's for almost hurting Danny!" I said before I punched him again. "That's for almost hurting Mrs. Fenton!" I punched him again. "And that...that was for MY FATHER!" I screamed as a sonar blast came out of my mouth and flew him back some.
I stopped and fell to the ground, trying my best to keep my secret hidden as I watched Mr. Fenton, or Danny rather, race on over and held Vlad up by the collar.
"How's it going, V-Man?" He said with a smirk.
"Oh, you've overshadowed Jack! What's next? A card trick?" Vlad mocked.
"Funny," I spoke as I stood up, feeling a lot stronger than I did when I first used my sonar scream.
"Listen to me," Danny began, "I swear I will walk out of my dad and expose us both, unless you agree to a truce."
"You're bluffing."
"No, I'm not," Danny spoke again. "My parents will accept me, no matter what. But if I expose you...well, what would my MOM think of you?" This seemed to have gotten Vlad's attention and fear to rise. "You'll be miserable and alone for the rest of your life unless you call a truce."
"Using your opponent's weaknesses against him," Vlad said with a smirk. "I am teaching you something after-all. Very well...truce. Eventually, you will join me by choice. You and your mother."
"Not while I'm here," I said with my arms crossed.
"But for now," He then leaped into the air and... "Curse you, Jack Fenton!" This got weird. "Your world-renowned expertise on everything ghosts has defeated me! Until next time, son." And with that, he turned himself into goop and disappeared.
"That's taking it a bit too far," I said before seeing Danny flying out of his father and grabbing me. We both stayed invisible as we flew out of the room and landed in the hallway. We changed back into our human selves and I couldn't help but giggle at a job well done, before a couple of hands were on the sides of my face.
I looked up at Danny, seeing his blue eyes entrance my brown ones before I smiled and we kissed. It was a short one, but it was still just as sweet.
"So, does this mean...?" I spoke as I bit my bottom lip out of being nervous.
"Yes," He said. "This means we're officially a couple."
"I can't believe they fired Harry!" Danny exclaimed from the passenger seat.
"Of course they fired her!" Jazz said from her bed. "She tried to file a crackpot story about ghosts. It's the Milwaukee Journal, not the National Inquirer." She then turned away and tried to get some sleep.
I was sitting next to my mom as I was writing something in my songbook when my mom put something in front of me. I looked at it and felt my stomach churn and grow hot. It was a heart-shaped locket with a star in the center of it. It actually looked like the star on my hazmat suit as Stardust. But that's not why it made me feel this way. It was the locket my dad gave me for my 10th birthday. I knew there wasn't a picture inside of it yet, but maybe that could change.
"Where'd you find this?" I asked as I looked at her.
"I've kept it this whole time, waiting for the day you were ready to have it back," Mom said. "And after seeing that ghost fight, I felt like it was time to return it."
"I thought I lost it in the crash," I said as I put it on around my neck. "Thanks, mom." I gave her a hug as she returned it.
"He'd be very proud of you," She began with a whisper, "Stardust." I froze as I pulled away from her. I was scared of what she was going to say or even ask when she just winked and went back to her book. I just sighed and sat back. I was about to ask her how she knew when...
"Ah, man!" I looked over and giggled as I saw Danny looking bummed.
"What now?" I asked him.
"My curfew is still 10," He retorted and I gave him an empathetic grin.
"Sorry to hear that, hun," I said as I crawled into my sleeping bag. "But at least we're heading home."
~THE END – END OF CHAPTER 6~